Jennifer Lawrence gets costume close-up in 'X-Men' director's photo

"X-Men: Days of Future Past" posted this behind the scenes photo of actress Jennifer Lawrence in costume as Mystique.

"X-Men: Days of Future Past" posted this behind the scenes photo of actress Jennifer Lawrence in costume as Mystique. (@BryanSinger / Twitter)

Nardine Saad

Jennifer Lawrence returns as Mystique in "X-Men: Days of Future Past," and she's got a costumed photo to prove it.

Director Bryan Singer is bringing new meaning to the phrase "behind the scenes," using social media to pique fan interest for his next film in the comic book franchise, due in theaters July 18, 2014. He's already showcased Halle Berry as weather-manipulating mutant Storm and shared teaser photos and videos of Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellan on the set. But now he seems to be targeting the new generation of fanboys and fangirls by bringing Lawrence into the mix.

In Singer's photo, Lawrence dons her character's scaly blue bodysuit and stares into the camera with shifty yellow eyes as a crew member adjusts her fiery orange mane. The costume reportedly took six hours to get into for "X-Men: First Class," a process Lawrence affectionately called "Mystink."

The Oscar-winning actress will reprise her role as Raven a.k.a. Mystique, a shape-shifting mutant, in the film. In the prequel, her character is taken in as a foster child by the family of Charles Xavier (James McAvoy), but by the end of the film she teams with a militant mutant faction organized by his friend-turned-rival Magneto (Michael Fassbender). The elder versions of Professor X and Magneto are played by Stewart and McKellan in the film.

Rebecca Romijn played the elder version of Mystique in the "X-Men" trilogy in the early 2000s.

Emmy-winning actor Peter Dinklage has also been cast, though it is unclear what role he'll play. But Singer is definitely teasing fans with the "Game of Thrones" star's presence.

"Reviewing tomorrow's work on the flight back to Montreal with #PeterDinklage #XMen #daysoffuturepast," he captioned a photo of himself with Dinklage on the plane.

He's also posted pics of Hugh Jackman and Nicholas Hoult, who play Wolverine and Beast, respectively, donning their 1973-set costumes and other cast members McAvoy and Ellen Page on the set.

The film's official synopsis remains vague, claiming that the X-Men "must travel in time to change a major historical event that could globally impact man and mutant kind."

What we do know is that the upcoming film is based on a story arc from the "Uncanny X-Men" comic books, which includes quite a bit of time travel and older and younger versions of the same characters. Hence, two actors for Professor X, Magneto, etc.